Family and Community Specialist

Job Description

Job Description

#BECOMEANALLYTODAY

$2500 SIGN-ON INCENTIVE BONUS

Full Benefits Package offered including:

Ø  Competitive Pay

Ø  12 Holidays per calendar year

Ø  2 Personal Days - birthday and anniversary of employment

Ø  10 Vacation Days per year (increases with tenure)

Ø  10 Sick Leave Days per year

Ø  10 Jury Duty Days

Ø  100% Employer Contribution to: Health - Kaiser or Anthem, Dental, Vision

Ø  401k Retirement Plan with 50% employer match for the first 4%

Ø  100% Employer Paid Life and Accidental Insurance

Ø  Employee Assistance Program (EAP) – for team members and dependents

Ø  Additional benefits:

o   Pet Insurance

o   Supplemental Life Insurance

o   Discounts for movie tickets, amusement parks, travel, hotels, sporting events, shows, etc.

o   Initial and ongoing training and professional development opportunities

o   Opportunities for growth and advancement

o   Employee referral incentive - $1,500

o   Public Service Loan Forgiveness

o   Credit Union Membership

AGENCY OVERVIEW :

Every child needs a childhood. Allies for Every Child (Allies) exists to give at-risk children and children living in poverty the foundation they need to increase their life choices and lead fulfilling lives. For nearly 40 years, Allies has been providing thousands of at-risk children and their families with critical, high-quality child development and family wellness programs (including comprehensive early education and Early Head Start services), family strengthening interventions, foster care and adoption services, and a range of vital, integrated services, including mental health services, educational assessments, trauma and disabilities screenings/advocacy, nutrition services, dental and vision screenings, and pediatric health consultations. In 2024, Allies expanded its reach, serving even more children and youth in foster care and those transitioning to adulthood through Extraordinary Families, a program of Allies for Every Child.

JOB SUMMARY:

Allies Early Education programs serve children zero to five, and children/families most vulnerable to negative long-term outcomes (e.g. experiencing homelessness, foster care, poverty, etc.). The Family and Community Specialist (FCS) is a dynamic and multidisciplinary role charged with providing support to children and families (e.g. family resources, recruitment, health, family engagement etc.).

ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills and/or abilities required. Reasonable accommodation(s) may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

·        Develop and support all Needs Assessment/Family Partnership Processes (FPP) and assist parents in developing and following up on Individualized Family Partnership Agreements (FPA), which include: identifying family strengths, goal setting; meeting timelines, developing strategies and monitoring ongoing follow-up services for state programs

·        Track and complete updated health and nutrition assessments and screeners annually

·        Track and complete transition plans for all children 2 years 6 months old, 2 years 9 months old and 3 years

·        Recruit (throughout LA county) families for Early Education programs and meet with families to inform them of all services available to them

·        Monitor and maintain waitlist; conduct follow-up with families

·        Update ChildPlus (database system) entries in a timely manner

·       Conduct community outreach regularly based on agency’s annual plan to support community relations and waitlist development through in person and virtual platforms

·        Plan, support and attend family engagement activities aligned with program’s Parent, Family and Community Engagement goals (including but not limited to Allies Children’s Arts Festival, Winter festival, Connecting Parents, Caring Conversations Café, etc.)

·        Educate parents on volunteer opportunities with the program and offer support and  encouragement for increased parent engagement

·        Support with the review of student records for proper immunizations, entering proper documentation in ChildPlus and updating families until the need is met

·        Monitor attendance of children in order to support families and conduct home visits when needed

·     Provide and develop referrals for child development services, social services and health services including home visits, provider visits, parent trainings, advocacy and crisis intervention in accordance with federal, state and program guidelines

·        Support in the organization and facilitation of parent committee meetings and assist with setting up workshops for parents including, as needed: learning the variety of workshop topics and offerings, providing transportation resources, childcare, and other support to encourage attendance

·        Coordinate, lead and attend meetings of the Parent Committee (Connecting Parent meetings) and Policy Council (as needed), providing reports and other information

·        Maintain regular contact with parents

·        Process and track all internal and external referrals for children and families in Child Plus, following agency policy and procedure, following up as needed

·        Participate in and support annual program self-assessment

·        Follow all agency and mandated child abuse reporting procedures

·        As needed:

•        Support with completing enrollments for both programs

•        Coordinate all transitions for new children to center-based classroom or Family Child Care provider homes with the Early Education Center Manager and Family Child Care Providers

•        Ensure that teachers/Family Child Care providers have full caseloads by monitoring drops and terminations

•        Administer program practices in line with policy and standards to ensure each family meets the eligibility requirements and in compliance with mandated federal standards

·        Ensure safety is a priority in performing all job responsibilities

·        Staff must believe in and act in accordance with both the Agency's and the program's mission/vision statements, adopted theoretical frameworks, and philosophy

·        In accordance with our "team" philosophy, the person filling this position may occasionally be required to carry out or assist with other tasks in addition to the duties listed on this job description

QUALIFICATIONS & EDUCATION:

·        Required credential or certification in Social Work, Human Services, Family Services, Counseling or      

related field. BA degree preferred

·        Two (2) years’ direct social service experience working with children, families, community groups and/or public agencies preferred

·        Familiar with relevant community resources in Los Angeles County

·        Able to understand, follow and adhere to State and Head Start Program Performance Standards; familiarity with standards preferred

·        Ability to communicate effectively - verbally and in writing

·        Bilingual in English and Spanish required

·        Strong organizational skills

·        Commitment to teamwork and flexibility with changes

·        Basic computer skills required - Word, Excel, Software applications

·        Experience working with diverse groups and populations

·        Passionate about learning and possesses curiosity about issues affecting children and families

·        All employees, regardless of their position, serve as role models for children and families who are served by our agency.

·        Fingerprint background clearance (DOJ, FBI & Child Abuse Clearance Index), or approved exemption

·        Successful completion of pre-employment physical, PPD test/ risk assessment, proof of immunizations for, influenza (can decline), pertussis (Tdap) and measles (MMR)

·        Class “C” driver’s license, proof of insurance and access to reliable transportation required

Allies for Every Child is an equal opportunity employer. We encourage applications from all qualified individuals and are committed to building a team that understands the communities we serve and maintains core values as an organization. All employment decisions at Allies for Every Child are based on individual merit, qualifications, and job-related requirements. We welcome candidates from varied backgrounds, including those whose personal or professional experiences enhance Allies’ ability to serve children and families effectively. The organization does not use demographic quotas or preferences in employment decisions.

Every child needs a childhood. Allies for Every Child (Allies) exists to give at-risk children and children living in poverty the foundation they need to increase their life choices and lead fulfilling lives. For nearly 40 years, Allies has been providing thousands of at-risk children and their families with critical, high-quality child development and family wellness programs (including comprehensive early education and Early Head Start services), family strengthening interventions, foster care and adoption services, and a range of vital, integrated services, including mental health services, educational assessments, trauma and disabilities screenings/advocacy, nutrition services, dental and vision screenings, and pediatric health consultations. In 2024, Allies expanded its reach, serving even more children and youth in foster care and those transitioning to adulthood through Extraordinary Families, a program of Allies for Every Child.

Company Description

Every child needs a childhood. Allies for Every Child (Allies) exists to give at-risk children and children living in poverty the foundation they need to increase their life choices and lead fulfilling lives. For nearly 40 years, Allies has been providing thousands of at-risk children and their families with critical, high-quality child development and family wellness programs (including comprehensive early education and Early Head Start services), family strengthening interventions, foster care and adoption services, and a range of vital, integrated services, including mental health services, educational assessments, trauma and disabilities screenings/advocacy, nutrition services, dental and vision screenings, and pediatric health consultations. In 2024, Allies expanded its reach, serving even more children and youth in foster care and those transitioning to adulthood through Extraordinary Families, a program of Allies for Every Child.